ABOUT US

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

What are the office hours?

The main office in Eau Claire is open Monday through Thursday from 12:00pm - 4:00pm. We do not have office hours on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Phone messages and emails can not be accessed on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, therefore, phone messages and emails will be replied to Monday through Thursday.

When can I take driver's education?

A student may take the 30 hour classroom instruction at any age, though we highly recommend that a student be at least 15 before attending a classroom program. A student must attain a valid Instruction Permit within 13 months of completing the 30 hour state approved classroom session. If an Instruction Permit is not received within this time limit, the 30 classroom hours or a classroom refresher course will need to be taken with the appropriate additional tuition due.

What are the basic requirements for Driver Education in WI?

Complete an approved 30 hour driver education class.

Get MV3001 form from Safety and Respect (fees must be paid in full, student must be in the process of completing or have completed the 30 classroom hours, student must be 15 1/2 or older).

Accumulate 30 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience. Ten of the 30 hours must be at night. The first drive time with a certified driving instructor must occur within the first 60 days of when the MV3001 form was signed by Safety and Respect personnel.

Hold an instructional permit for a minimum of 6 months (There must be a minimum of 19 days between the 1st and 6th driving lessons).

I printed off my registration materials from the website. Am I enrolled now?

Amost! Your spot is NOT guaranteed in class until the parent SIGNED Contract for Services and deposit (deposit amount will be subtracted from the total tuition due) arrive at our main office in Eau Claire. Once the contract and deposit are received at the Eau Claire office, the student's position in class has been secured.

How do I pay? Do I have to use a Credit Card?

You may pay the deposit, full amount, or any amount equal or greater than the deposit online with a credit card or you may choose the option to send or bring your payment into our Main office with the signed contract. If you choose to pay via mail or at our main office, please understand that your teen is on a waiting list for the classroom session until the deposit amount is received. Please note that prices listed are cash discounted. If you choose to pay tution with a debit or credit card, you are foregoing the cash discount that is received when payment is made via cash, check, or money order. Cash, check, or credit card payments are equally accepted.

Do we cancel Class or Behind the Wheel if the weather is bad?

Not often. We will contact everyone via email if Class or Behind the Wheel is cancelled that day. To ensure you receive the email notifications, log in to your teen's account, click the hyperlink titled "MY ACCOUNT." Click "Confirm Now" link for email and/or text notifications. You will be sent an email and/or text to verify accurate numbers and email addresses.

What is Safety and Respect's refund policy?

The deposit of $125 in nonrefundable and nontransferrable. A student may switch classroom sessions and apply the deposit, but it will not be applied to any other student or sibling.

Classroom

How long is a classroom session?

Students under the age of 18 are required to successfully complete 30 hours of classroom. Each classroom period is a maximum of two hours per day per state statutes. Each classroom course is 15 days (15 x 2 = 30). Typically classes meet four or five days per week totalling a minimum of three weeks in duration.

What happens if I miss a day of classroom?

The state requires all students to complete 30 hours of classroom time. If a student is absent for one day, he/she will receive content appropriate make up work for that specific day. The state will allow a maximum of two absences. If a third absence occurs, the specific day of class missed must be physically made up in another class assuming that there is a seat available.

Are classroom sessions ever cancelled?

Safety and Respect will only cancel a classroom session if there are less than 11 students currently enrolled in the class. The student will be able to transfer to any future classroom session of their choice.

Online Classroom

Is Online Classroom an option?

Yes, online classroom is available to students age 14 1/2 and older. It does, however, need to be completed within six month of the program access date.

Will I be able to complete the online course faster than the In Class session?

No. The in-class session and the online classroom session must both be a minimum of 30 hours with a maximum of two hours per day over a minimum of 21 days. Students have a maximum of six months to complete the online classroom course.

I signed up for the Online Course, how do I begin?

To begin the online classroom course, students must have a signed Contract for Services and deposit on file with our main office in Eau Claire. Once both items are received, an email will be sent to you with the subject line "online program access." This email will provide a link to the online course along with the username and password to begin the course. This UN/PW is not the same as the UN/PW the student set up for their Safety and Respect account. Please remember that students have a maximum of six months to complete the online classroom course.

I took the Online Classroom Only option. How do I get my MV3001 form to get a permit?

Students who are choosing to take the Online Classroom Only option are not eligible to get a signed MV3001 form from Safety and Respect. The MV3001 form is provided by the Behind the Wheel vendor. Please remember that students have a maximum of six months to complete the online classroom course.

Can I do the online course and Behind the Wheel at the same time?

Yes, students who are age eligible, have completed at least one day of online class, and are paid in full may receive their signed MV form from Safety and Respect allowing the student to get a valid WI permit and begin the driving instruction with us. Please complete your online course before completing your final drive time and REMEMBER that you have six months to complete the the online classroom course.

I received an email with a Certificate of Completion for Online Classroom. What do I do with it?

Students who are taking Behind the Wheel with a vendor other than Safety and Respect will receive a Certificate of Completion via email upon successful completion of the online course. This certificate must be provided to the Behiind the Wheel vendor as proof that the student has successfully completed the state required 30 hours of classroom for individuals under the age of 18.

Behind the Wheel Information

When can I take the Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) portion of your program?

A student may take the BTW program once he/she has received a valid Wisconsin Instruction Permit from the DMV. Students CAN NOT get a valid Instruction Permit or signed MV3001 form prior to the first day of the classroom session the student is currently attending or planning to attend.

When am I eligible for an Instruction Permit?

A student is eligible for the Instruction Permit when he/she meets the following requirements:

Once the above items have been fulfilled, Safety and Respect can provide the student/parent with a signed MV3001 form. Please note:

MV3001 forms can not be issued prior to a student attending or in the process of attending a classroom session - STATUE 105.07(2)(a)

How can I study for the Instruction Permit test?

Students will be armed with all the information needed by taking the 30 hour classroom course. If students would like to begin studying for the Instruction Permit exam, we highly recommend reading the Wisconsin Motorist Handbook. This handbook contains the information needed to successfully pass the Instruction Permit exam. The Wisconsin Motorist Handbook is available online to read or you may download the e-handbook from the DMV website.

What is the MV3001 form and where do I get it?

The MV3001 form is the document that verifies that the student has fulfilled the classroom requirements or is in the process of completing the classroom portion of Driver Education and are 15 1/2 years of age or older. The MV3001 form may be downloaded from our website or obtained from one of our office staff.

The MV3001 form must be signed by a Safety and Respect Personnel before going to the local DMV. Students can NOT get the signed MV 3001 form prior to the start of their classroom session.

The MV3001 can NOT be signed by an instructor or staff member until the day the student is 15 1/2 or after. If the half birthday lands on a weekend, then the form may be signed on the following Monday not before. The regulation is mandated by the state and not a school policy. Quite simply: Driver Education schools are not allowed to sign the MV3001 form prior to the teen turning 15 1/2 regardless of dire circumstances.

Why can't the MV3001 form be emailed or Faxed?

The DMV will NOT accept the MV3001 form in any electronic form. It must be the original form. This means the MV3001 form can not be emailed or faxed. MV3001 forms may be picked up at our main office in Eau Claire or it will be mailed to the students who live an hour or more away from our main office.

What documents do I need to take to the DMV for the Instruction Permit test?

Students need a certified copy of their birth certificate, social security card, and a completed MV3001 form. If the student does not have a social security card, he/she will need the social security number and a second form of ID. The DMV will charge the student $35 for the Instruction Permit.

I have taken the 30 hour class and I have my Instruction Permit. Now what?

You are ready for the Behind the Wheel portion of the curriculum. To enroll for drive times, view our Behind the Wheel driving calendar. All students must have one drive time with a certified driving instructor within the first 60 days of having the MV3001 form signed by Safety and Respect personnel per state regulations. We recommend students drive one time per month to allow for adequate practice between driving lessons, however it is not mandatory that a student do so. All drive times are cummulative so it is best to practice and accomplish the skills that are introduced at each drive lesson before beginning the next lesson of the sequence.

Can I take more than one drive time per day?

Unfortunately, no. The state will allow a maximum of one driving hour per day with a certified driving instructor. However, a student may complete up to two observation hours per day.

What happens if I don't complete my first drive time within 60 days of when my MV form was signed by a Safety and Respect personnel?

Absolutely nothing good. Do not put off taking the first drive time! If you know you are not going to get your permit within a week or two of receiving your signed MV3001 form, then do not request it until you know exactly when you are going to the DMV. The 60 day count down begins the moment we sign your MV3001 form. Take that into consideration when requesting the form or when picking the form up from our Main Office in Eau Claire.

I have scheduled a drive time, but I need to cancel it. What do I do?

Log into our website at www.safetyandrespect.com enter your username and password. Your name and itinerary will be viewable on the right side of the screen. Click on the RED "X" next to the scheduled appointment you wish to cancel. Please take note of the count-down for when the drive appointment needs to be cancelled by to prevent incurring a late cancellation fee. You will be asked to verify that you really do want to cancel the drive time. If you want to cancel, click on the "Yes" button. As long as you do this within two business days of your scheduled drive, you will not incur the cancellation fee of $40. Please remember that we do not have office hours on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays, therefore, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are not considered business days. All cancellations need to be done via the online scheduling software.

Can I wear flip flops to my driving appointments?

NO!

Can I still do my drive time if I do not have my valid permit with me?

No, no, no, and no. It is against the law for any person to drive a vehicle without their Valid Instruction Permit in their possession at and for every driving appointment. We can not have any student in our Safety and Respect vehicles without their valid permit. This requirement is also noted on your signed contract, signed Parent Information form, text and email appointment reminders, explained when provided with a signed MV form, and part of five separate in class quizzes. There is no exception to this rule.

Can I cancel my drive time over the phone?

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to take cancellations over the phone. All cancellations can be made with your log in information the same as scheduling driving appointments. If you have a unique situation, the best method to reach us is via email.

If my teen cancels a drive time late or doesn't show up for the appointment, why do I get charged?

Drive times are scheduled so each student can receive credit for both the driving hour and observaton hour. When your teen does not show up for the appointment or chooses to cancel late, the other student no longer has a student to observe. The student that chose to show up for their appointment now has to reschedule that portion of the drive time because your teen did not attend.

If the weather is bad, do you cancel driving lessons?

We usually wait to see exactly what the weather conditions are going to be for your drive-time before making the decision to cancel. While the safety of our students is our top priority, we will drive in snow and rain, as it is important for beginning drivers to be exposed to all types of driving environments. Should it be necessary to cancel driving lessons, we will contact all affected students as soon as possible. For classroom, unless it is the policy of the contracted school to cancel all after school activities including DE, class will be held. Please use your discretion for attendance on these poor driving condition days.

When should I schedule my final drive time?

You should schedule your final drive time one to two weeks prior to taking your road test. This "cushion" time allows a student the opportunity to perfect any skills that may be a bit challenging. The cushion time will also allow for any extraneous scenarios to be solved that may prevent taking the road test on your projected goal date ie. you or the instructor catches a flu bug, the weather conditions are too poor to drive, etc. DO NOT SCHEDULE YOUR ROAD TEST FOR THE DAY AFTER YOUR FINAL DRIVE TIME. YOUR PAPER WORK WILL NOT BE FILED IN TIME FOR YOUR TEST!!!!

When am I eligible for my license?

A student may take a road test with the DMV when he/she have reached the following requirements:

Successful completion of 30 required classroom hours

Successful completion of 12 hours of instructed BTW

Student has held a valid WI Instruction Permit for a minimum of 6 months

All tuition and/or fees are paid in full

After Fulfilling Course Requirements

How do I schedule my road test?

Visit any Wisconsin DMV office, call 1-888-368-9556, or click here to schedule your road test time online. You can schedule your test approximately 11 weeks prior to your desired test date. The DMV will add additional road test appointments each week so if you can not find a time that fits your schedule on the first attempt, more test times will be posted as the DMV is able to post availability.

What information do I need when I go to the DMV for my road test?

Students must bring their Instruction Permit, Social Securty number, and $43.00 for the new license. The course completion slip will be filed electronically with the DOT once all course requirements have been completed and any fees due have been paid.